The effect of music therapy on treating patients pain and anxiety in emergency department: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Music therapy (MT) is a recognized modality for pain and anxiety reduction. Although its efficacy has been demonstrated in various clinical settings, its application in emergency departments (ED) remains controversial. This study aims to study the effects of MT in reducing pain and anxiety among patients visiting the ED with pain complaints. Methods: A single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, from July 2023 to September 2024. During each month of the study period, three days were randomly selected for the MT group, and another three days were designated for the non-MT group. All participants received standard analgesia and completed pre- and post-session questionnaires to assess pain, anxiety, satisfaction, and ED service quality before and one hour after analgesia. The MT group received MT sessions, each lasting 30–40 min. Results: Sixty-three patients participated (31 MT group, 32 control group). The MT group showed a significant reduction in pain scores of 1.52 points compared to 0.09 in the non-MT group (p 0.002). Anxiety score was also significantly reduced in the MT group by 1.87 points compared to 0.44 points in the non-MT group (p 0.026). The most significant improvements were observed in non-trauma-related pain and anxiety. Satisfaction scores increased in both groups (0.48 vs. 0.47 points; p 0.946), with no significant difference. However, MT significantly improved perceived ED service quality (0.98 vs. 0.10 points; p 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, we found that music therapy, when combined with standard analgesia, effectively reduced pain and anxiety in patients presenting to the ED, particularly those with non-trauma-related pain. Clinical trial number: TCTR20231109003. Registration site Thai Clinical Trials Registry. URL: https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20231109003. Date of approval: 20 June 2023.